Paul Casey backs postponement of 2020 Ryder Cup

Paul Casey has told BBC Golf the 2020 Ryder Cup must be postponed until next year because of the coronavirus outbreak. 

The PGA Tour recently confirmed there will be no golf for at least two months, and both The Masters and US PGA Championship have been postponed for later in the year, if being staged at all. 

"Yes is the answer to that," when Casey was questioned by the BBC as to whether or not the Ryder Cup scheduled for September at Whistling Straits in the United States should be pushed back another year.

"I am never a fan of postponing stuff but it's been postponed before, so why can't it happen again?"

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Casey's views would appear a little different to that of 2020 European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington, who this week claimed the match at Whistling Straits is still likely to go ahead as planned from September 25 to 27.

Should this year's Ryder Cup be delayed another 12 months, it would mark the second time that has happened following the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

"As disappointing as that would be, you want it to be as good as possible, as spectacular as possible," said Casey, currently ranked 24th in the world. 

"If it's going to put lives at risk then we have to and that's an obvious. Yes, I think it's a really strong possibility, would I support it being postponed? If it has to, then yes I would."

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Casey would have been bidding to win the Valspar Championship for a third consecutive year had all gone to plan this week on the PGA Tour.

"I'm obviously disappointed," said Casey, at not being able to defend his title. "I was looking forward to going for three in a row, but it's amazing how quickly things have changed.

"The situation is no longer about golf. It's about worrying about people's safety, people's health and the economic impact of that."

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Casey has played in four European Ryder Cup sides and been on the victorious side on three of those occasions. 

As things stand in the rankings, Casey is just outside the automatic spots for a place in Harrington's team, but you would like to think he would be a strong contender for a wildcard pick should he need one given his status in world golf. 

The world might seem pretty bleak and uncertain right now, but Casey admits there will be light at the end of the tunnel and that for the Englishman will be the return of competitive golf. 

"Obviously that's disappointing and there's nothing I can do about it," he said.

"The excitement when we do get back will be brilliant. People will be craving golf and I know I will be craving golf and looking forward to getting back out there."